GUTTER SYSTEM

Abstract: A gutter system comprises a plurality of prefabricated gutter elements having an essentially U-shaped cross section. One of the legs (2) of a gutter element is considerably longer than the other (3), and this long leg (2) is attachable on the roof. Each gutter element comprises, at both ends thereof, an end wall (9) that is preferably integral with the gutter element and that comprises a coupling means for connecting a coupling piece (11) for connecting a discharge pipe (13) for precipitation water, said coupling piece (11) being connectable in any desired rotational position with respect to the longitudinal direction of the gutter element. The coupling piece (11) can be a T-coupling piece, mountable between two successive gutter elements. Each connecting means can be formed by a tube stub, the coupling piece (11) then being a piece of tubing.

Description: GUTTER SYSTEM The invention relates to a gutter system, comprising a plurality of prefabricated gutter elements having an essen¬ tially U-shaped cross-section, of which one leg is consider¬ ably longer that the other leg, said long leg being attachable on the roof . Such a gutter system is known from, for example, Dutch Patent Application 7316987. In this known gutter system, gutter elements can be joined together in order to realize a complete gutter for a building, while special measures have to be taken to seal the joints between the gutter elements. In practice, such joints constitute a weak point in the gutter, in which, in the course of time, a leak may arise. This gutter system further requires special elements for connecting a dis¬ charge pipe. These special elements will be situated in the gutter in different angular positions with respect to the ver¬ tical . Consequently, the bend pieces connecting the discharge pipe to the gutter have to be adapted to each particular situ¬ ation. The invention aims to provide a gutter system of the type referred to in the introduction, which minimizes the risk of leakage and simplifies the connection of a discharge pipe. To this end, the gutter system according to the in¬ vention is characterized in that each gutter element comprises at both ends thereof an end wall, said end wall being prefer- ably integral with the gutter element and having a connecting means for connecting a coupling piece for a discharge pipe for precipitation water, said coupling piece being connectable in any desired rotational position with respect to the longitudi¬ nal direction of the gutter element . Thus, the invention provides a gutter element which, already during the manufacturing thereof, is closed completely tight at both ends by one wall, so that no sealing measures will have to be taken during the mounting of the gutter elements. A discharge pipe can be very easily connected with the coupling piece, owing to the fact that the coupling piece can always be connected to the connecting means of the gutter element with the connecting side for the discharge pipe in any desired position. Thus, the gutter system according to the invention can advantageously comprise a built-in discharge pipe, by placing the connecting side of the coupling piece in such a position that the discharge pipe passes through the plane of the roof. It is, of course, also possible to place the connecting side of the coupling piece in a vertical or other desired position in order to mount the discharge pipe on the outside of the building, as is usual. The gutter system according to the invention further has the advantage that it can be very easily mounted on the roof, since it does not require the installation of brackets, as is generally necessary. According to an advantageous embodiment of the inven¬ tion, the gutter system comprises mounting strips that are attachable on the roof and that comprise, at both ends there¬ of, a fixing part capable of cooperating with a fixing means of a gutter element. Because of this, the gutter system accor¬ ding to the invention is suitable for each roof angle. Preferably, the coupling piece is a T-coupling piece, mountable between two successive gutter elements. Thus, the T- coupling piece forms, on the one hand, a connection for the discharge pipe and, on the other, a simple coupling between two successive gutter elements. At the end of the building, the gutter element can be closed off by a closing cap or it is possible to simply close off one connecting side of a T-coupling piece with the closing cap when mounting a discharge pipe at the end. According to a very favourable embodiment of the in¬ vention, each connecting means is formed by a tube stub and the coupling piece is a piece of tubing. If an appropriate diameter is selected for the tube stub, standard coupling pieces that are commercially available can be used. The invention will be further explained below with the aid of the drawings, in which an embodiment of the gutter system according to the invention is shown. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the gutter system according to the invention, in which a built-in discharge pipe is used. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the gutter system of figure 1, in which a discharge pipe has been fitted on the outside of the building concerned. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the gutter system of fig. 1, in which the coupling piece is covered by a cover plate. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the gutter system according to the invention, in which the coupling piece is situated at the corner of the building concerned. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the gutter system of figure 1, in which the connecting stubs of two adjacent gutter elements are visible. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the gutter system of figure 2, showing the coupling piece covered by a cover plate and also giving a schematic representation of a row of tiles. The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the gutter system according to the invention, comprising a plurality of prefabricated gutter elements 1, each having an essentially U- shaped cross-section. One leg 2 is considerably longer than the other leg 3. Each gutter element 1 is mounted with the long leg 2 on the roof 4 of a building 5 shown schematically in the drawings. For the purpose of mounting the gutter elements 1 on the roof 4, the gutter system comprises mounting strips 6 which are screwed onto the roof 4. Each mounting strip 6 com¬ prises at both ends thereof a fixing part 7 that is capable of cooperating with unspecified fixing means of the gutter element 1. These fixing means can, for example, comprise a rim on the side of the body 8 of the gutter element 1, which is placed under one of the fixing parts 7 of the mounting strips, after which a rim formed at the free end of the long leg 2 is clicked behind the other fixing part 7 of the mounting strips 6. During the manufacturing process, the gutter elements 1 have each been provided at both ends with an end wall 9 hav¬ ing a tube stub 10 (see figure 5) for connecting a T-coupling piece of tubing or for placing a closure cap known per se. In this way, it is achieved that a completely tight prefabricated gutter element is provided, so that, during the mounting of the gutter on the building concerned, it is no longer necess¬ ary to make joints between successive gutter elements and to seal these. If an appropriate diameter is selected for the tube stubs 10, standard coupling pieces that are commercially available can be used. The coupling pieces 11 can be reliably and sealingly joined to the tube stubs 10 by usual means. To this end, common rubber sealing rings can be used. It is also possible to join the coupling pieces sealingly to the tube stubs 10 through a glued joint. As a T-coupling piece 11 is rotatable with respect to the tube stubs 10 during its mounting, the coupling piece can be mounted in any desired rotational position with respect to the longitudinal direction of the gutter element 1. This allows the coupling piece 11 to be mounted in the position shown in figure 1, so that a built-in discharge pipe 12 can be used. It is, of course, also possible to join the coupling piece 11 in such a way to the tube stubs 10, independently of the angle of the roof 4, that a vertical discharge pipe can be fitted on the outside of the building 5. It will be noted, that the gutter elements 1 on either side of the respective coupling piece 11 are only represented partially in figures 1 and 2, while of one gutter element 1 essentially only the end wall 9 is visible. As figures 1 and 2 show, a grid 14 has been incorporated in the end wall 9 for each tube stub 10, which serves to retain leaves and the like. Figure 3 shows that, at the site of a coupling piece 11 not visible in figure 3, a cover plate 15 is mounted, which extends from the free end of the long leg 2 to the short leg 3 of both adjacent gutter elements 1. The cover plate 15 also engages around the body 8 of the gutter elements, so that an attractive closed unit is obtained. The cover plate 15 com¬ prises an auxiliary gutter 16 which opens onto the adjacent gutter elements 1. In the situation represented in figure 4, che coup¬ ling piece 11 is situated at the corner of a building, so that the cover plate 15 connects only on one side with the gutter element 1. On the other side, the cover plate 15 has an end plate 17. Instead of the coupling piece 11, a bend piece can be used for connecting the discharge pipe. It is also possible to attach a closing cap to the tube stub 10 of the gut er element 1, if on that side of the building no discharge pipe is needed. It will be observed that figure 4 shows some tiles 21 of the lower row of tiles. In the embodiment according to figure 2, in which the discharge pipe is situated on the outside of the building 5, the gutter system comprises an adapter 18, which connects the discharge pipe 13 to the T-coupling piece 11. In this case a cover plate 19 has been used, which contains an opening for the adapter 18, as can be seen in figure 6. The drawings illustrate that each gutter element 1 has a flange 20 on the side of the long leg 2, which closes off the cross-cut rim of the plates of the roof 4. This flange 20 is flush with the body 8 of the gutter element 1. The section of figure 3 shows that each gutter element has a semicircular cross-section on the inside. The centre of the respective circle is positioned on the centre line of the tube stubs 10 indicated in figure 5. As a result of this, hardly any water will be retained in the gutter. The lower row of tiles 21 lies over the long leg 2 of the gutter elements 1, so that a simple connection of the tiles with the gutter is obtained. The gutter elements 1 are preferably manufactured from plastic, and the body 8 in particular can be provided with a suitable reinforcing profile. From the foregoing, it will be understood that the invention provides a gutter system, comprising a limited num¬ ber of different parts and allowing nevertheless a gutter to be mounted simply and directly on the roof of a building, and allowing the use of, as desired, either a built-in discharge pipe or a discharge pipe fitted on the outside of the build- ing, independently of the roof angle. The gutter system accor¬ ding to the invention further has the advantage that prefabri¬ cated gutter elements are used, which, with the exception of the tube stubs 10, are completely closed, so that, during the mounting of the gutter, no particular sealing need to be made between the successive gutter elements. If an appropriate dia¬ meter is selected for the tube stub 10, standard coupling pieces can be used. The risk of leakage is very small, even in the long term. In the embodiment described in the foregoing, the end walls 9 have been manufactured as an integral part of the gut- ter elements 1. It is, however, also possible to manufacture the end walls 9 separately and to join these through a glued joint or the like to the gutter element 1 to form a unit. Fur¬ thermore, instead of a T-coupling piece, a bend piece can be used as a coupling piece for connecting a discharge pipe, for example at a corner of the roof. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described in the foregoing, which can be varied in various ways within the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Gutter system, comprising a plurality of prefabri¬ cated gutter elements having an essentially U-shaped cross- section, of which one leg is considerably longer that the other leg, said long leg being attachable on the reef, charac¬ terized in that each gutter element comprises, at both ends thereof, an end wall, said end wall being preferably integral with the gutter element and having a connecting means for con- necting a coupling piece for a discharge pipe for precipita¬ tion water, said coupling piece being connectable in any desired rotational position with respect to the longitudinal direction of the gutter element. 2 . Gutter system according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling piece is a T-coupling piece, mountable between two successive gutter elements. 3. Gutter system according to claim 1 or 2, charac¬ terized in that each connecting means is formed by a tube stub, and that the coupling piece is a piece of tubing. 4. Gutter system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cover plate for a coupling piece, said cover plate extending from the free end of the long leg to the short leg of a an adjacent gutter element and compris¬ ing a gutter that opens onto the (each) adjacent gutter element. 5. Gutter system according to claim 4, characterized in that the cover plate engages around the outside of the body of the (each) adjacent gutter element. 6. Gutter system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sealing cap for the connecting means of a gutter element or a connecting side of a coupling piece. 7. Gutter element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cover cap for connecting a dis- charge pipe to a coupling piece. S . Gutter system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by mounting strips that are attachable on the roof and that comprise, at both ends thereof, a fixing part capable of cooperating with a fixing means of a gutter element. 9. Gutter system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each gutter element has a pro¬ jecting flange on the side of the long leg, said flange being flush with the body of the gutter element. 10. Gutter system according to one of claims 2-9, characterized in that each gutter element has a semicircular cross-section on the inside, the centre of the circle being substantially aligned with the centre of the tube stubs. 11. Gutter system according one of the preceding con- elusions, characterized in that the gutter elements are manu¬ factured from plastic. 12. Gutter element designed for application in a gut¬ ter system according to one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: SCHOUTEN CORNELIS PETRUS, SCHOUTEN, CORNELIS, PETRUS
Applicants: TEKENBURO SCHOUTEN KEES, KEES SCHOUTEN TEKENBURO
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E04D13
IPC codes: E04D13